The New Orleans Saints could receive trade interest for Cesar Ruiz ahead of the NFL trade deadline. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Matt Bowen ranked the veteran guard No. 23 on their list of 25 players they could move.
Fowler put Ruiz's trade chances at 25%. Bowen identified the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders as potential fits for the Saints' right guard:
“The Saints could explore trade options while sitting at 2-5, and several teams are looking for a quality guard. New Orleans has to win and already lost a starting offensive lineman in tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., so this is hardly a slam dunk. But he’s an intriguing name about whom teams could inquire."
Ruiz's pass protection could appeal to teams needing help on the interior. Bowen noted that
Ruiz has posted a pass-block win rate of at least 90% in five of his seven NFL seasons, though he was less favorable on his run blocking.
For the Saints, any offer would have to justify creating another opening up front. Moving Ruiz could bring back draft capital, though it would also leave New Orleans missing another starter on an offensive line already missing Banks. That makes this decision about both the potential return and how much more disruption the Saints can afford as they try to turn their season around. It’s worth noting Ruiz has missed most of the last two games with a knee injury, but he was able to practice on a limited basis before the Pittsburgh Steelers game in Paris. Maybe his arrow is trending up.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: ESPN names two potential trade fits for Saints right guard Cesar Ruiz
